Scum overflow for clotheswashing machines



Jun: 10, 1947. D. R. NEAL 2,421,803

SCUM OVERFLOW FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES Filed 001;. 18, 1943 2 sriets-sneet 1 E i: i

o ol' :31 Q I J 1 I 5 a A(D A o m I a 2 I 16 ff u D. R. NEAL June 10, 1947.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1943 a c v u I I Y n .Q

,Patented June 10, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT or FlCE SCUM OVERFLOW FOR CLOTHES- WASHING MACHINES Duane R. Neal, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors tion of Delaware Application October 18, 1943,

Corporation,

Dayton,

Ohio, at corpora- Serial No. 506,692

4 Claims. (01. 68-23) This invention relates to domestic appliances and more particularly to washing machines.

progress. r

Further objects and advantages of the present invention In the form of tub I is may be filtered turned to the tub.

If desired, the washing machine may include driving mechanism in casing 82, a pump l3, a, pipe l6, a

so that the toroidal flow is rected towards the central portion of the tub.

(ii For t is purpose, the agitator may include a cyto 400 reciprocations per minute. tion produces the toroidal flow with the upper surface directed toward the center of the tub as indicated by the arrows ma.

During the washing operation, scum is produced in the washlngagent,

" the main body of washing agent.

The skimmed portion of the washing agent may be discarded to the discharge pipe l1 which may be connected to the sewer, or may be filtered through the filter l5, where the scum is arrested, and the filtered washing agent may be returned through the pipe I6 to the tub I0. For this purpose a drain receptacle 30 may be placed under the tub l0 into which the skimmed washing agent flows from the overflow dam l0b. This washing pipe if or to the whence, it flows through the filter back to the tub I0.

pipe 36 from If desired, the tub as may be rotatable, so that the perforate tub Such reciproca- I5 and pipe as to be introduced from 358,871, filed Sept.

rim 42 into the drain receptacle 3!], from whence it flows through the pipe 33, pump selector valve II and discharge pipe l1.

If desired, the washing machine may be provided with automatic controls. To this end a timer switch 50 may be provided with a setting handle or knob Suitable control lines may extend through the cable casing 52 to the power mechanism l2, selector valve l4, and, if desired to suitable solenoid valve controls (not shown) for the pipe l8. The timer 50 operates a plurality of switches in proper sequence so that the first operation is to cause liquid washing agent the house water supply, through suitable hot and cold water solenoid valves, through the pipe l8, into the tub l0 approximately to the level l9. Thereafter the switch 50 causes the power mechanism in casing I2 to reciprocate the agitator H for a sufficient length of time to cause the toroidal flow and washing action to take place. During this time the top surface of the washing agent is skimmed by overflow over the dam lflb. If desired, at this time, a small amount of additional washing agent may be slowly introduced through the pipe l8 as the washing action progresses. During the washing operation, the selector valve It may be placed in a position either to discharge into the discharge pipe l1 or, if desired, into the pipe 35, filter l5, pipe l6 and back to the tub Ill. After the washing operation has terminated, the switch arrangement in timer 50 causes the mechanism in casing l2 to rotate the tub 10, while reciprocation of the agitator II is terminated, and this discharged over the rim 42 into the receptacle 30 from whence it flows through the pipe 33, pump l3, pipe 34, valve IE to the discharge pipe l1.

Any suitable construction may be used for accomplishing the foregoing. If desired, the tub in may be supported on a rotatable sleeve 55. The sleeve 55 is rotated by mechanism in casing l2 and is rotated by power derived from an electric motor in the casing l2. The sleeve 55 has secured thereto a ring 56 which carries a cone 51 to which a counterbalancing ring 58 is secured by means of a resilient ring 59. The cone 51 is apertured at 32. The cone 51 also carries a second cone 60 which is secured to the imperforate tub 40. The cone 60 is apertured at 3|. A flexible bellows 6| is secured to the upper edge of cone 60 and also to the vertically reciprocable shaft 62, to which the agitator II is secured by means of the spider 63." The shaft 52 extends downwardly inside the sleeve 55into the mechanism in casing [2, where it is connected to suitable transmission for vertical reciprocation. The transmission casing I2 is supported on a flexible collar 64 which, in turn, is supported on the upwardly extending wall 65 of the receptacle 30. The lower end of the power mechanism casing 12 may be supported on a flexible block 65. Details of the counterbalancing ring'driving mechanism and supports are more fully described in the application of Kendall Clark, Serial No. 28, 1940 (Patent 2,366,236, granted Jan. 2, 1945) to which reference is made, if necessary, for a more detailed description of the operation and construction of these parts.

In the operation of the machine, fabrics such as wearing apparel, are placed in the tub Hi together with a detergent, such as powdered soap.

- The timer 50 is set to control the desired sequences. The timer 50 then causes washing l3, pipe 34,

agent. such as hot water, to be introduced at proper temperature and the proper quantity through the pipe l8 to to the level IS. The timer 50 then causes the agitator II to be vertically reciprocated. This reciprocation causes the toroidal flow, with the top surface directed inwardly toward the center of the tub, Scum and a small portion of the washing liquid overflow the whence it flows through the apertures II and 32 to the receptacle 30. From thence it flows through the pipe 33, pump l3, pipe ll selectively either to the discharge pipe I1 or through the pipe 36, filter l5, pipe [6 back to the tub Hi. If

desired at this time, a small continuous stream of washing liquid is automatically maintained at Hi to replace or augment the liquid overflowing the dam lob. After the washing operation has terminated, the timer 5!] stops reciprocation of the agitator II and causes rapid rotation of the tub l0, so that the washing liquid is centrifugally discharged from the rim 4! into the receptacle 30, pipe 33, pump l3, pipe 34, valve l4 and discharge pipe l1. Thereafter these operations are repeated by the timer 50 with clear water, so that the clothes are rinsed one or two times substantially in the same manner as previously described with the exception that no detergent or soap is added for the rinsing operations.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a washing machine, a receptacle to hold liquid, an overflow dam fixed in'said receptacle, a vertically reciprocable agitator surrounding said dam, said agitator having perforations at the normal liquid level of said tub to permit scum to flow through said perforations and over said dam and having means to produce continuous toroidal circulation, and means for vertically reciprocating said agitator.

2. In a washing machine, liquid, a sleeve for supporting said receptacle, a vertically reciprocable shaft extending upwardly from said sleeve, a supporting apertured cone connecting said sleeve and receptacle, being apertured for the flow of liquid, an overflow pipe secured to said receptacle around said apertured cone and extending upwardly above said cone, a flexible bellows connected to said cone and vertically reciprocable shaft, and a vertically reciprocable agitator secured to said rcciprocable shaft, said agitator having scum overflow aperture means adjacenttsaid overflow pipe, and having means to produce continuous toroidal circulation.

3. In a washing machine, a rotatable sleeve, an apertured cone secured to said sleeve, a second apertured cone secured to said first named cone, a rotatable tub supported on said second apertured cone outside the apertured portion of said second cone, a vertically extending overflow pipe carried by said tub and extending above said cones, a vertically reciprocable shaft in said sleeve extending above said overflow pipe, a water seal extending from said second named cone to said shaft, and an agitator surrounding said overflow pipe and secured to said shaft above said overflow pipe, said agitator having scum overflow aperture means adjacent said overflow pipe, and

fill the tub substantialll.

dam orpipe llib from a receptacle to hold having means to produce continuous toroidal circulation.

DUANE R. NEAL.

, file of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Wales Dec. 27, 1932 Dunham (1) 1 Oct. 6, 1942 Behan Dec. 28, 1937 Barifii Jan. 20, 1942 Dunham (2) Apr. 18, 1944 Heinrich Mar. 7, 1922 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France 1931 

